Machine for making cigarette-rods and cigarettes.



No. 669,I38. Patented Mar. 5, |90I.

H. E. vGRABAU.

MACHINE FOR MAKING CIGARETTE RODS AND CIGAFIETTES.

' Application med June 21, 1899. (No Model.) l0 Sheets-Shet l.

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H. E. GRABAU. MACHINE FUR MAKING CIGARETTE RODS AND CIGARETTES.

lApplilcation led Jun l0 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No ModeL) WIIHIIIJ. IIIIIIHH I Patented Mar..5, |90I.

lo sheets-smet 3.

JUL uhr H. E. GRABAU.

MAGHINE FDR MAKING CIGARETTE RODS AND CIGABETTES.

Application lcd June 21, 1899.) No Modal.)

NN. @wl

Y H. E. GRABAU.

Patented Mar. 5, |90l.

MAGHINEFR MAKING CIGARETTE RODS AND CIGABETTS. (Application filed June 21, 1899.) (No Model.)

l0 Sheets$heet 4,

No. 669,|3. Patented Mar. 5, |901.

H. E. GnABAu.

MACHINE FDR MAKING CIGARETTE RODS AND CIGARETTES.

(Application led June 21, 1899., (No Model.) I0 Sheets-Sheet 5.-

Inventor No. 669,138. Patented Mar. 5I90l.

H. E. GBABAU. A

MACHINE FOR MAKING CIGARETTE RODS AND CIGARETTES.

(Application filed June 21, 199.'y (No Model.) I0 Sheets-Sheet 6.

H. E. GRABAU.

MACHINE FOR MAKING CIGARETTE RODS AND CIGARETTES.

(Application filed June 21, 1899. [No Model.) ID Sheets-Sheet 7.

No. 669,!38. Patented Mar. 5, |90I.

Patentd Mar. 5, |90I.

H. E. GRABAU. MACHINE FOR MAKING CIGARETTE RODS AND CIGARETTES.

l0 Sheets-Shut 8.

(Application filed June 21, 1899.;

(No Model.)

No. 669,I38. Patented Mar. 5, |90I. H. E. GRABAU.

MACHINE FOBv MAKING CIGARETTE RODS AND CIGARETTES.

Application filed June 21, 1899.; (1Mo Model.) I0 Sheets-Sheet 9.

No. 669,|38. l Patented Mar. 5, lam. H. E. GnABAu.

MACHINE FUR MAKING CIGARETTE RODS AND CIGARETTE-S.

` Application mea June 21, 1899.-, (No Model.) l0 Sheets-Sheet I0.

Fly 14. figli.

@VLIR-mmm l State of New Jersey,

' ism, taken on the line 7 cross-sectional vview thereof onthe PATENT' OFFICE.

HANS EDGAR GRABAU, OF

HOBOKEN, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO THE GAROIA-R'ABELL TRADING COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

MACHINE FOR MAKING CIGARETTE-RODS AND CIGARETTES.

SPECIFICATION ornninfz,` part of Letters Patent No. 669,138, dated March 5, 1901. Application filed June 2l, 1899. Serial No. 721,352. (No model.)

To all zul/wm, t may concern:

Be it known that I, HANS EDGAR GRABAU,

a subject of the Emperor of Germany, resid.-

ing at Hoboken, in the county of Hudson and have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Machines for Making Ciga rette-Rods and Cigarettes, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in cigarette-machines,

having for its object to provide a machine capable of manufacturing cigarettes economically in a perfect manner and at an exceedingly high rate of speed.

With this object in View the invention consists in the novel construction, combination, and arrangement of parts hereinafter set forth with more particularity.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and in'which like characters of reference designate corresponding parts, Figure l is a side elevation of a machine embodying the invention, parts being in section. Fig. 2 isran enlarged detail plan view of the feeding, folding, and pasting mechanisms, parts being broken away. Fig. 3 is asimilar view with parts removed. Fig. 4 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view of the feeding, folding, and pasting devices. Fig.- 5 is a sectional View of the feeding and com pressing devices, taken on the line 5 5 of Fig. 2. Fig. 6 is asimilar view with theparts in a diierent position. Fig. 7 is an enlarged detail sectional view of the pasting mechan- 7 of Fig. 2. Fig. 8 is an enlarged detail view of the cutting mechanism, parts being in section. Fig. 9 isa plan view of the same mechanism. *.Fig. 10 isa line 1,0 l0 of Fig. 9. Fig. ll is a detail perspective view of a part of the cutting mechanism. Fig. 12 is an enlarged sectional view of the feed-hopper and its inclosed mechanism. Fig. 13 is a similar view 12, and Figs. 14 to l9are detail sectional views of wrapper folding and crimping mechanism.

The vframe a a is suitably constructed to support the feeding devices b, the compressing devices c, the crimping or pasting apparatns d, and the cutter e. Beneath the feeder extends a trough f, which receives the to- 'belt g,

taken on the line 13 13 of Fig.'

v,bacco from the feeder and through which extends the wrapper-strip no, the latter passing through the compressor c and into a foldingtrough j, above which are arranged folder devices mofany suitable character, by means of which the edges of the wrapper-strip are turned down, and after being pasted or crimped the cigarette-rod then passes through the cutting. apparatus e.

The compi-essor c consists of two. lower wheels 17 l, around which the face of which is level with the bottoms of the troughsfj, and of an upper belt h, which passes around rollers l5 and 16 and which travels with the lower belt and the wrapper-strip to conduct the tobacco positively between the edges of two compressionplates t' t', which converge at the ends nearest the troughj, so as to gradually compress the tobacco laterally to form the filler, which passes from above the lower conveyor-belt g into the troughej, where the sides of the paper are turned upward to a standing position. In passing into the trough j the tobacco rod meets an incline plate n, which folds down the loose fibers, so as to prevent them from being folded into the seam of the wrapper, the plate n also tending to prevent any undue expansion of the filler.

In order to facilitate the forward movement ofthe wrapper, an endless" tape p passes laround the belt g on'the Wheel l-7 and over the belt and through the troughj to a drivewheel 30, around which it passes back to the wheel 17.

It is very desirable to be able to obtain access to the tobacco at all points between -the .feeder and the. point `where the filler is Wrapped, and I therefore provide means whereby the parts which make contact with the tobacco may b e readilyswung out of and into position. Thus the upper wheels 15 16,

carrying the upper belt h, are mounted upon a frame 24, carried by a bracket 19, which is hinged at to an adjustable block 31, bolted to the top .of the frame a. A bracket 21, supporting the lower wheels 17 18, is also hinged at 20 to the plate 3l, and thus the parts carrying both the upper and lower belts may be swung away, or either may be swung away from normal position, as desired. A screw- IOO bolt 26, passing through the bracket 21 and through the top of the table and into the .bracket 19, serves as a means of holding the parts in place, as indicated in Fig. 5. As it is seldom necessary to remove the lower belt, while the ilpperone in ust be frequently swung to one side, the lower bracket 2l is supported in position by means of a pivoted cam 27, provided with a handle o By loosening the bolt 26, therefore, the upper belt may be swung to one side while the lowerl one is held in place; but by swinging the cam 27 the lower bracket may be dropped. Iuasmueh as the plate 31 is vertically adjustable, the-belts maybe shifted laterally to any desired position,and the frame 24 is adjustable upon the bracket- 19 by means of' a screw 25 to regulate the pressure of the upper belt upon the plates t t'. These plates It are connected by horizontal pivots 22 22 to plates 33 33, bolted adj ustably to the top of the frame a. The shafts of the wheels carrying t-he belts g h are carried by blocks 35 36, connected by a screw-pin 37, which may be turned by means of a head 37, so constructed that it may be grasped between the fingers or be operated by a suitable tool, to thus separate the blocks to tighten the belt-s. Before reaching the paster one edge of the wrapper is turned in, while the other standing edge'is presented to lthe paster-wheel 37b. This wheell 37b has a beveled edge correspond-ing to the beveled end of the paste-tube 38, which is sety at vsuoli a distance from the fac-e of the vwheel as to permit only a thin tilmiof past-e to flow vto the edge of the wheel. To effect this adjustment, the Wheel turns in a bearing 41, having a threaded extension 42, onto which screws a Acollar 43 at the lower end of the paste-tube, so that by turning the collar 43 Afte'rthe wrapper` passes fromthe the tube may be raised orlowered to secure the nice adjustment required.

To feed the paste down toward the wheel,

the propeller 40 is arranged within the tube 38, being mounted on the shaft 44 of the paste-wheel, which shaft extends downward through a bearing carried by the frame. the means described a lrn of any desired thickness may be deposited on the paste-wheel and conveyed to the standing edge of the paper. To prevent any undue accumulation of paste, however, I provide a revolving blade r on a shaft s, so arranged that as the blade rotates its edge will pass close to but not in contact with the pastefwheel and will remove therefrom anysurplus material, a brush t serving to remove the'ipaste I:'roin.'the'bladen.V

paste-wheel the standing edge is turned `down onto thel i edge below, and the tube is thus sealed, thus formingthecigarette-rod. l` t f. y

- lTo 'avoid 'the difliculty incident kto the use of a vibrating cutter, mea'ns are provided for. cuttingy the rod intoshort sections or cigarettes bybringingit against the edge'ofv a rotary cutter-wheel, whichinaybe eiectedmithontinj'ury to therod, byfmoving the parts lThe cutting devices are Vbest shown vin Figs. B-to 11, where 50 represents a funnel of rigid nel 51 of wound wire gradually contracting and extending to a conductor-tube 52 into an annular recess, in which extends the forked end of a lever 53, the lower endol which projects into an inclined slot a; in a bracket 54. The lever 53 is pivoted to and carried by a T- lever u, pivoted at o to a bracket 55, andthe opposite end of the lever u, is forked and euters an annular groove in a pulley 56, secured to the shaft 57 of the cutter-wheel o', which shaft turns and slides in bearings w. The T-lever u carries an antifriction-wheel 56a, which bears against a cani 57a upon the end of the driving-shaft 58, and a toe 'y of the cam 57a comes at intervals against the wheel 56a and swings outward the lever u, which carries with it the conductor-tube 52 and the cutter-wheel fu'. Asy the conductor is carried outward in the direction of the arrow, Fig. 9,

inclined slot m, will be swung outward and the upper end will be swung inward, carrying with it the conductor-tube 52 and bringingthe cigarette rod against the edge of the cut-terwh-eel, which, instantlyshearing against the edge of the tube 52, cuts'-'th-e rod. As both the conductor'tube and the cutter-wheel are carried in the direction. ofthe arrow, as the lever it swings outward the cutter and tube maintain their relative positions and the cutter travels with the traveling rod,so that there is a straight shear across the tobacco rod, and as both parts move back to their normal position the tube 52 is carriedv away from the cutter, permittin g the tobacco rod to travel continuously without interruption. By this means the cigarette-rod may be sheared when traveling at any desired rate of speed.

While any suitable feed devices maybe employed, there is illustrated in Figs.v 1, 12 and 13 a feed apparatus that has proved to be extremely eec'ti ve. This apparatus is provided with a cylindrical casing 60, with dat ends 61, the sides converging at the bottom toward an outlet z, which is above the trough f, which latter is secured to the tabl-e, soas to he laterally adjustable,by a screw 62, as shown in Fig. 12 The casing 60 is open at the top, above which is av hopper '63, into which 'the tobacco is put,so `as to rest upon the face-of the cylindrical drum 64,` which rotates with a 1 shaft 65', passing lth'ro'ngh' the ends4v of the casing. The drumf64 isv somewhat smaller than the interiorof'thecasing and'is provided with radialfpins whi'ch are arranged in -rows in'- the end of o'ne rowbeingin li-ne wit'hthe' pin at the opposite side at the 'coin-inenceinent of the 'next row.' Onthe outerface of `the hopper 63 is an adjustable vplate 67,' slotteda-t the material, t-o which is connected a liexible funl the lower end of the lever 53, Asliding in the l IIO lower end for the passage of the pins on the drum, and on the opposite side 70 of the hopper is an adjustable plate 72, and upon intermediate cross-plates 69 69 are adjustably secured the plates 68 and '71. The plate 68 is set with its edge at some distance above the ends of the pins 66. The plate 71 is set with its lower edge closer to the ends of the pins, while the plate 72 is set with its edge so as to barely escape contact with the pins. As a result of this arrangement the pins 66 carry from the mass of tabacco in the hopper a certain portion of the latter, nearly all the surplus above the points ofthe pins being scraped oi by the plate 68, and as the pins pass below the plate 71 any projecting portion of the tobacco above the pins will be removed, as will also any portion which may swell out from above the tops of the pin's in passing below the plate 72,'so that by the time the pins have passed beneath the plate 72 the tobacco -will be evenly and regularly disposed over the surface of the drum and'will be carried downward and fall onto the inclined side of the casing, down which it will slide to the outlet z and will pass thence onto the wrapper-strip traveling through the trough f. If desired to secure a still more regular and even distribution of th'e tobacco, a rotating roller 73 may be arranged between the converging sides of the casing and below a guard 74, so as to pick up the tobacco as it slides toward the roller and throw it in the direction of the arrow, Fig. 12, to the opposite side of the casing, down which it will slide towardI the openmg z.'

The above-described parts may be driven in any suitable manner. As shown, the shaft 58 extends longitudinally beneath the top of the table and is provided with a pulley 80, from which a belt passes to a pulley 81 on the shaft of the feed device, which shaft 65 carries a pulley 82, from which a band passes to a pulley on the end of the shaft of the roller 73. The Wheels supporting the lower belt g of the compressor c are driven through the medium of gears 83, while gears 84 85 comm unicate motion from the wheels of the lower belt to those of the upper belt h, as shown in Fig. 4. The paster-wheel 37 is driven from the shaft 58 through the medium of gears 86 87, as shown in Fig. 7, and the shaft 57 of the cutter o' is driven from`the Ashaft 58, through the medium of gears 88, Figs. 8 and 9.

When a crim per is to be substituted for the pasting device, the following-described arrangement is used: The trough j, Fig. 14, has an overhanging portion 90, which bends up .the edges of the wrapper-strip to form two long flanges 91, Fig. 15. Prior to such bending, however, the tobacco is again com pressed by a blade 93, arranged beyond the blade n, as shown in Fig. 16. Side blades 94 95 then bend the ianges 91 with a bend first to the right and then to the left, as shown in Fig. 17, and continuations 96 97 bend the flanges again to the right, as shown in Fig. 18, after which the bent or folded portions are brought over the flange 98 of a crimping-wheel 99,

against which said portions are compressed by another crimping-wheel 100, as shown in Fig. 19, the material being thus formed into a compressed rib, which is so crimped as to hold the laminae together, forming a tight seam which cannot be opened without rupturing the paper. lt will be seen that the crimping mechanism may be substituted for the pasting mechanism by removing the paster and the folding devices m n and replacing them by the devices 90, 93, 91, 95, 96, 97, 99, and 100 Inthe manufacture o'f cigarettes heretofore time has been lost and the clfective speed of the machine reduced from the necessity of frequentlyresharpeningthecutterl Toavoid this, I combine with the cutter-blade 1:' a hone or sharpening-stone 105, adjustably supported by a bracket 106, so that it may be brought. against the cutter during its operations at in'- tervals or, if desired, maintained in continuous contact therewith, so as to always`preserve it in effective condition.

Much loss of time and etiiciency in the operation of machines is apt to result from the occasional gumming up of the material in the conducting-trough, so that the tobacco and wrapper become wedged in place, necessitating the stopping of the machine and the opening and unobstructing of the channels. To avoid this, there is combined with the machine a stop device, preferably electrical, which either sounds au alarm or stops the machine as soon as the cigarette-rod fails to feed properly. One form in which such device is made, Fig. 9, consists of a governor 107, the shaft of which turns in bearings 10S, Carrying a grooved wheel 109, with a rubber periphery bearing upon the cigarette-rod. When the cigarette-rod travels at a norma-l speed, the balls of the governor, which are upon spring-arins 111, fly out; but when the speed of the cigarette-rod is reduced the balls willapproach the spindle of the governml and make contact with a ring 112, which is in the circuit, including a battery 113 and an alarm 114, which therefore begins to sound. A suitable switch 115 may be used to break the circuit when the machine is at rest. Instead of the alarm any of the well-known stop mechanisms adapted to shift the driving-belt or otherwise stop the machine may be employed.

Without limiting myself to the precise construction and arrangement of parts shown, I claim- 1. A cigarette-machine provided with upper and lower traveling belts, of compressionplates arranged between said belts and converging toward one end, and a traveling tape passing over the lower belt, substantially as set forth.

2. lThe combination of the upper and lower traveling belts, converging compressionplates arranged between the belts, a foldingtrough, and a traveling tape passing over the lower belt and through the folding-trough, substantially as set forth.

3. The combination in a cigarette-machine, of a compression device having upper and ,p lower belts, folding o r Wrapping devices, a conducting-tape passing between the belts of v forth.

the compression device and through the foldilg devices, a feed-trough, and means for conducting the wrapper-strip through the feedtrough to the compressing device, substantially as set forth.

4. The combination of the upper and lower traveling belts, and intermediate compression-plates connected by horizontal pivots to be swung laterally into and out of position, substantially as set forth.

5. The combination of the upper and lower belts, intermediate com pression-plates, plates 33 to which the compression-plates are connected by horizontal pivots to swing laterally into and out of operative position, and means for securing the plates 33 adjust-ably upon the frame of the machine, substantially as set 6. The combination of the lower belt and its supporting-wheels, and a frame supporting said Wheels and pivotally connectedto the frame of the machine to swing into and out of operative position, substantially as set forth. g

7. The combination of the lower belt and its supporting-Wheels, a pivoted frame 21 supporting said wheels and adapted to be swung vinto and out of operative position, and a retaining-cam, substantially as set forth.

8. The combination with the upper belt and its supporting-Wheels, of a frame 24 in which said wheels are mounted, a bracket carrying said frame, and means for adjusting the frame vertically on the bracket, substantially as set forth.

9. The combination of the main frame, a

v bracket secured thereto, a frame 24 carried by the bracket and supporting the upper compressing-belt, and a screw 25 for adjusting the frame 24 vertically on the bracket, substantially as set forth. v

l0. The combination with the lower travcling belt, of an upper belt passing around wheels, and a support for said wheels pivoted to the frame of the machine to swing laterally, substantially as setforth.

l1. The combination with the main frame, and a plate 31 adjustably secured thereon, of frames pivotally connected to said plate, and supporting-wheels and upper and lower belts carried by the pivoted frames, substantially as described.

l2. The combination of the upper belt and the pivoted frame supportingl the same, the

' lower belt, and the horizontally-pivoted compression-plates, substantially as described.

13. The combination with the foldingtrough of a cigarette-machine, of 'a pastingwheel 37 having a beveled edge, and a pastetu be beveled at the lower end to correspond to the edge of the wheel, and means for varying the space between the beveled faces, substantially as set forth.

14. The combination of the pastor-wheel having a beveled edge supported in a bearing having an annular projection 42, and a paste-tube having a beveled end and supported by a nut 43 engaging said projection, substantially as set forth.

l5. The combination of the paste-tube, the paster-wheel, the rotating paste-remover r, and the brush t, for removing the paste from the remover r, substantially as described.

16.l The combination of the paste-tube, the

paster-wheel, and the rotating paste-remover r, substantially as set forth. 17. The combination of a rotating and sliding shaft, and a disk cutter supported thereby, a guide for the cigarette-rod, a vibrating lever fu, engaging the shaft, a connection between the lever and the guide, means for vibrating said lever, and means for carrying the guide to and from the shaft, substantially as setforth.

18. The combination of the cutter-shaft, the lever u connected to impart longitudinal 95 movement thereto, means for swinging outward the lever u, the guide for the cigarettr rod, the forked lever 53 pivoted to the lever u and engaging the guide, and the bracket having an inclined slot a; into which the lever loo 53 extends, substantially as set forth.

19. The combination in a cigarette machine, of a centrifugal governor and means for driving the same from the moving cigarette-rod, an alarm, and means for operating the alarm from the governor, substantially as set forth.

20. The combination ofthe casing having a discharge-opening z, a drum rotating in said casing and provided with projecting teeth, a 1ro hopper above the drum, anda plurality of plates 'adjustable to bring their lower edges at different distances from the pins of the drum, substantially as set forth.

21. The combination of the casing, the drum provided with pins, the roller 73 below the drum, and the guard 74 above the roller, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of izo two subscribing witnesses.

HANS EDGAR GRABAU. 

